Car parking charges in Sidford - Vision Group for Sidmouth
And from the Devon Live newspages:
Council to rethink 'whopping' price rises at East Devon car parks
The 150 per cent price rice could have 'severe consequences for the viability of the village' councillor fears
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By
Daniel ClarkLocal Democracy Reporter
12:10, 10 SEP 2018
NEWS
East Devon District Council has been forced to rethink controversial parking charges in two car parks.
Charges at Church Street car park in Sidford were due to be brought in line with the other car parks in the district, rising from 40p to £1 for an hour's parking, while charges were due to be introduced at Phear Park in Exmouth for the first time.
But the council’s cabinet agreed to look again after a raft of objections were raised at their last meeting.
Charges at Underhill car park in Lympstone, Canaan Way in Ottery St Mary, Coombe Lane in Axminster, and Dolphin Street in Colyton, which currently have cheaper parking rates, will be brought in line with the rest of the council run car parks and see car parking charges rise, will charges at the Exmouth Pavilion seafront car park will also be introduced.
And a new and 'simpler' parking permit, costing £100 a year, will be introduced across the region.
CHURCH STREET, SIDFORD
Richard Eley, president of Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce, said the increases in Sidford by a whopping 150 per cent would have severe consequences for the viability of the village.
Church Street car park, Sidford (Image: Daniel Clark)
He said: “It will raise virtually no extra revenue for East Devon District Council and no-one has asked for this at all. No businesses want it, councillors don’t want, and there have been no letters complaining that Sidford enjoys an unfair advantage.
“There is little or no free parking in Sidford, but there is free parking is available at Waitrose. It will be devastating for residents, particularly those without a car and could put people out of business, and is one of the most unexpected proposals ever as no one had even asked for it.”
Cllr Marianne Rixson echoed his comments, and said: “Sidford has already lost many shops over the years. Everyone knows that retail is suffering, and then the local council decides to hike up the cost of parking to your customers by a whopping 150 per cent.
“Taking Sidford Spar as an example - why would anyone pay a 50p premium for half an hour to buy a loaf of bread or pint of milk when they can drive to Temple Street and park for nothing or onto Waitrose and park for nothing, or even Newton Poppleford and park for nothing?”
Church Street car park, Sidford (Image: Daniel Clark)
She added that 64 per cent of people agreed with a proposal to instead introduce free parking for the first two hours and this plan does not reflect the views of business owners or residents and would only generate an extra £43.50 a day based on current revenue generated, as the car park contributes only 0.32 per cent towards annual revenue at £10,676 in 2016/17.
She said: “But a dramatic increase in car park charges could hasten the closure of more local businesses through lack of custom.”
Cllr Iain Chubb said he could not support parking increases in Sidford as if you want to stop and use the village, you have to park in the car park as two main ‘A’ roads run through the village.
PHEAR PARK IN EXMOUTH
The cabinet were being asked to introduce a pay and display parking management regime in Phear Park in Exmouth with a tariff of 50p per hour and £2 all day.
Phear Park in Exmouth
The charges would cover the management costs of preventing inconsiderate parking on the grass and pathways, by creating marked bays and the ability to ticket anyone not using them, after continued complaints from park users and local councillors about people parking inconsiderately on the grass and pathways.
But Cllr Jill Elson described the pay-and-display proposals as ‘using a sledgehammer to crack a nut’. She said: “We are trying to open up Phear Park for use by as many people as possible, so I would like the cabinet to ask the Exmouth councillors to look at ways we can manage the issues ourselves.”
Cllr Megan Armstrong called on the cabinet to knock the proposal on the head as it was ‘ridiculous’. She said: “Parks are part of the facilities for residents who pay their council tax. I walk my dog there and it used by a whole range of ages and seems to be to asking people who already pay their council tax to pay again to park there, which is simply not on. Because it is a park and the only one park that we are looking to do this in, we should not be doing this.”
Cllr Tim Golder said that although the proposed fees seem low, for regular users it would impact them quite heavily. He asked: “Can we instead use peer pressure to try discourage parking on the verges and do some self-policing to change the community for the better?”
Phear Park Car Park
John Robins, secretary of Phear Park Bowls Club, said the proposed changes would have a significant financial impact on the club, saying it would cost around £160 for the club’s 40 playing members simply to play bowls – a cost 40 per cent higher than the membership fees.
He added that it could also affect the club’s annual tournament, saying: “To lose the tournament would be a blow towards bowls in Devon and put a big gap in our finances. It is sad to think a club that has been on the park since 1911 could be forced to close and I am sure the Phear family who left the park to Exmouth would be in dismay at this turn of events.”
WHAT THE CABINET SAID
Cllr Geoff Pook, East Devon District Council’s portfolio holder for Asset Management, said that the council had listened carefully to what has been said during the public consultation and the cabinet report recommendations reflect the view of the respondents.
He said: “The report explains the proposals to simplify our car parking offer, making both car parking tariffs and car parking permits fairer throughout the district while continuing to recognise the different needs and demands of residents and visitors. The thrust is to make it simple and fairer. Everyone had to pay to park so anyone where you are paying more, you are subsiding a cheaper car park.
“There are no changes planned to majority of car parks and the changes are to bring the outliers sites to the majority. The £2 all day for any car park in winter offer we are still planning to run again next winter.”
Cllr Marcus Hartnell said that he did support the principle of simplifying the charges but was sympathetic to Sidford and the impact it could have, particularly as parking on the main road would be a bigger problem.
And Cllr Ian Thomas, leader of East Devon District Council, proposed that the report and proposed charges be adopted, but that the changes proposed to Phear Park and Church Street in Sidford be referred back to officers for further discussion and not to be taken forward.
His proposal was unanimously approved by the cabinet.
THE CHARGES
East Devon car parking charges
East Devon car parking charges
The changes, that will take effect from April 2019, mean it a parking permit will cost £100 rather than £134 a year for use in just one town or village location, with an additional £20, up to a total of £200, for additional towns.
Residents of Colyton, Exmouth and Lympstone, where permits currently cost £40, will get a 50 per cent discount in 2019 and 25 per cent in 2020, before reverting to £100 in 2021.
No changes are proposed to the 2, 3, 4 and 7-day explorer tickets.
The base the car parking offer is coastal long stay (£1 per hour, £6 maximum for up to 24 hours), inland long stay (£1 per hour, £3 maximum for up to 24 hours) and short stay (£1 per hour, £3 maximum for up to 4 hours).
Council to rethink 'whopping' price rises at East Devon car parks - Devon Live
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